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You are hereForeign Minister Westerwelle welcomes extension of ISAF mandate

Foreign Minister Westerwelle welcomes extension of ISAF mandate

Feb 1, 2013

Foreign Minister Westerwelle made the following comments inBrusselsregarding the Bundestag’s approval ofJanuary 31st, 2013of the mandate for participation in ISAF:

“I welcome the fact that once again, a broad majority of the German Bundestag voted to support our soldiers on their difficult mission inAfghanistan.The handover of responsibility for security toAfghanistanand the incremental withdrawal of combat troops will continue as planned in a highly responsible manner and in close cooperation with our partners. We will conclude the ISAF mission by the end of 2014.The message is clear: we will not abandonAfghanistanafter 2014. After our combat troops have withdrawn, stabilization and reconstruction inAfghanistanwill remain a key priority for German foreign policy.”

The mandate for the German forces’ participation in the ISAF mission was approved by a big majority in the Bundestag (435 votes for, 111 against and 39 abstentions).

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Afghanistan

Within the framework of the international community, Germany plays an active part in Afghanistan, with the objective of preventing Afghanistan from again being a sanctuary for international terrorists.